I hope you are enjoying the story. It has been 7 years since I last worked on my one and only fanfic story. I am taking it slow, recovery isn't a fast process and I wan't to show how Steve and the team are adjusting. Let me know what you think so far. I haven't had much feedback so I am not sure if it is worth while carrying on with the story or if there is much interest for this style.
The ambulance pulled up at the rear of the building in the patient bay of the old pepto-bismol pink hospital. There was an attractive brunette nursing officer in scubs with a Army CPT rank slide sewn on the front who climbed into the ambulance. "Welcome to Tripler. I am CPT Lisa Morgan, I am running the nursing staff in the rehab wing for today. Let's get you settled into your room and then we will go through admissions and some basic orientation. Come this way." The gurney was wheeled off the transport ambulance and into the hospital. Like every time he was moved all Steve could see was the flashes of the ceiling lights and arches of doorways above him. Finally, he was wheeled into a small room, with a window looking down the hill to the harbor and what looked like a wardrobe, dresser, armchair, TV and a second door which Steve assumed was to the bathroom. At least he didn't have to share a room, he thought to himself.
"So this will be your room" CPT Morgan gestured around "The bathroom is shared with the adjacent room, but lucky for you that room is empty for now. I am glad to see that you are off any O2 and IV, that is going to make getting around much easier". She consulted a file which Steve could see has his rank, name and service number written across it. "The plan for today is really just to get you settled and then your program starts tomorrow" she smiled down at him "your rehab consultant will come by in the afternoon to talk about the program".
"We got all your med docs from Queens and the rest is on your med file in the system so I don't really need any further information from you. Is there someone coming with your things?".
"Yes, Danny Williams, my partner said he would be over around lunch" Steve replied.
"Oh?" CPT Morgan, looked down at the file in her hand, brown suddenly furrowed. "I had you listed as single on your pers forms. There was no partner listed, sorry, there must be an error".
Steve smiled slightly "I meant my work partner, in the Five-0 Task Force - the police unit I am attached to. Although he does carry on like an old woman some times".
With absolutely perfect timing Danny strutted through the door Steve's duffel in hand "Babe, I brought your stuff, couldn't find the hoodie you were after but there was another blue one that seemed fine".
The nurse could barely keep a straight face.
"Thanks Danny. I guess just put it on the dresser? This is CPT Morgan" Steve said trying not to laugh himself.
"Like the drink?" Danny turned around giving the attractive brunette a cheeky grin.
"Yes, like the drink" She rolled her eyes. Second time today someone had made the same comment and it wasn't even midday. She couldn't wait to get promoted. "Anyway I will leave you both to unpack. Normally all patients who can leave their beds are required to eat in the mess, but as getting you up and moving is in the plan for tomorrow I will get the orderly to bring you lunch and dinner in here. Just don't get use to it" she winked at Steve before turning around and heading out.
###
After unpacking and lunch, which Danny mostly ate, CAPT Gus Lloyd came in. Danny was sitting in the armchair next to Steve's bed, both had dozed off watching day time TV. Noticing the sleeping pair he knocked gently on the door frame, startling both men. Steve looked around wildly taking in his new surroundings and Danny jumped to his feet.
"Rest Gentlemen." CAPT Lloyd stretched out his hand "I didn't expect you would both be asleep in the middle of the day". CAPT Lloyd was a tall, strong man in his late 50s, dressed in dark navy scrubs with his navy rank embroidered on the front of his shirt. He was tanned with a weathered complexion and deep smile lines around his eyes. He was completely bald, probably for a long time as his head had the same sun-damage as the rest of his face. On his right arm was a tattoo of a full rigged ship with a shell backed turtle underneath, an anchor and a hula girl where visible on his left arm. Steve noticed the Navy markings instantly - "perhaps a former sailor" he thought to himself.
"I am CAPT Gus Lloyd, the Commanding Officer for Tripler's rehab centre. We are short staffed for consultants at the moment, and seeing as we share a few former colleges" CAPT Lloyd winked at Steve "I will be supervising your case". He picked up Steve's chart which was at the end of the bed. "Not to mention that I hear you are one stubborn SOB so I won't have you giving any of my subordinates a hard time - you got me to contend with and trust me I am just a stubborn". He smiled widely at the pair who where looking slightly shocked.
Danny was still standing after jumping to his feet. He walked over to CAPT Lloyd hand outstretched "I am Detective Danny Williams. I am Steve's, um, Commander McGarrett's partner at the Five-0". CAPT Lloyd returned a firm handshake.
"It is good to meet you Danny. Don't worry about the rank thing. We are pretty relaxed about it around here - there is enough going with out throwing all that regimental BS around. Anyway you SOF boys don't care for formalities anyway, am I right?". He looked knowingly at Steve.
Steve looked back at him, no reply. If he wasn't in a neck brace he probably would have shrugged. He had no idea who this guy was, but he clearly knew or knew of Steve.
"So, gentlemen I run a pretty tight ship around here and you will need to keep with the daily battle rhythm and meet timings. Trust me it makes the rehab and recovery process much easier". CAPT Lloyd then launched into a description of how the program run.
There was 0600 reveille followed by 2 x physical therapy sessions, 1 x occupational therapy session or a psych / group meeting every day except Sundays and then retire by 2100 with the lights out. Meals were strictly timed too – Steve had forgotten the early 1800-1900 dinner timings, he was not a fan of eating while the sun was still up and he hadn't had to stick to timings since he was a junior officer. This was going to be frustrating.
Once CAPT Lloyd had finished the run down he looked at Steve - the frustration was visible right across his face. "This program works, it might seem constraining and I can already tell you are going to get pissed off with it, but it here to get you adjusted to your injury and back home being able to get back into your everyday life and looking after yourself. That is the end goal here - independence. It is going to look different, it is going to be very different, but in a month or so you are going to be able to head home. So focus on that". He paused letting that sink in to the stubborn SEAL. He had plenty of patients like LCDR McGarrett before and he was ready for the rodeo that was going to follow.
"The mission for today is to get you sitting up completely and transferred into a chair. Then we are going to get you out of the high collar brace to make sure that you haven't lost too much neck strength. Since you haven't been up yet, you woudn't have had a proper shower either. Once we get you up, I will get the nurses to come in and give you a hand. I have rounds to do, but they will be around in about half an hour to get going with it. I will check in with you later." With that CAPT Lloyd headed out the door.
Steve let out a long sigh. This was going to be hard. Instinctivley Danny went to pat his arm, then thought better of it.
"He was intense" Danny remarked out loud.
"You are telling me" Steve replied. "Its like being back in in basic except it smells like antiseptic and hospital food".
Steve closed his eyes and took afew deep breaths. What COL Lloyd had said about independence was turning over in his mind. He was going home from here and he was going to have to learn to live like this. He let out another long sigh. There was a lot of work to be done. As much as he wanted, today was not the day for a pity party - he was just going to have to put in the work if he was going to get back home.
###
He had told Danny that he didn't need to stay around for the afternoon, but his partner wasn't hearing it and refused to leave. Steve pretended it was totally unnecessary, but really he was glad to have him there. He didn't know what to expect and Danny had been his rock. After they both broke down the other night following Danny's anxiety attack, Steve was less afraid to show his emotions and vulnerabilities to Danny. His partner was hurting too and they had each other through this. He had to be tough for the team, for Grace and for Catherine, but now he knew he didn't have to around Danny.
Around 30 mins later, two nurses, one female, one male both in military style scrubs came into Steve's room. One was wheeling a large machine which looked like a crane with a sling under the arm and the other was pushing a high backed wheelchair.
Steve's pulse quickened and he felt light in the pit of his stomach. He wasn't sure what to expect but seeing both the wheelchair and the crane suddenly made him nervous. He cast a sideways glance a Danny who was trying to look calm and as normal as possible.
"Good afternoon Steve. I am Jess" the nurse pushing the chair introduced herself, "this is Declan" the nurse pushing the crane waved. "We are going to get you out of bed and showered. You are going to feel so much better with your hair washed, freshly shaven and in your own clothes".
Declan positioned the crane next to the bed before reaching for the bed controls. "I am going to slowly sit you up. This might give you a bit of a head rush, okay? Let me know if you start seeing stars or thing you are going to pass out".
"Ah yep okay" Steve replied hesitantly.
Danny was standing at the foot of the bed, feeling very useless and also concerned for his friend. The memory of Steve vomiting and choking in the ICU was still very fresh in his memory. "What do you want me to do?" he asked the nurses.
"Can you please grab Steve's wash bag and put it in the bathroom on the sink and then grab out a set of clothes - t-shirt, sweatpants, underwear, socks. Really just something comfortable". Jess replied pulling back the sheet and blanket covering Steve from the chest down.
While Danny was digging through the dresser both nurses grabbed the sling and placed it under Steve by rolling him gently from one side to the other. Clearly something they had done many times before. Declan then lowered the hospital bed and was now starting to raise the head of the bed. Steve had the head of the bed up slightly for meals over the last week but this was much higher than previously. It must have been awhile since the last round of pain meds as with every degree raised the pain in his back increased. It was radiating up from his lower back to around his rib cage and into his shoulder blades. He grimaced trying to control his breathing. He started to feel cold and realised his blood pressure must be dropping.
Danny walked out of the bathroom, having put his wash bag down to see a very pale, and very much in pain Steve. Sweat was forming on his brow and he breathed hard to control the pain.
"How are you doing Steve" Declan asked. "Fine" replied Steve through pursed lips. He certainly wasn't fine, but he could manage for now. Declan connected up the four points of the sling to the crane which tightened around Steve, hoisting him off the mattress slightly. Jess had grabbed another wheelchair from outside while Steve was being lifted up. It was smaller and made of plastic and metal. There was perferations in the back rest and seat. Danny watched from the foot of the bed - totally useless in the situation. Jess brought the wheelchair alongside the bed as the crane very gently swung him sideways and then the nursed guided him into the chair as the sling lowered and then unclipped. It was clear Steve was in pain, his jaw was clenched tight and his breathing was heavy.
"Okay Steve, that was the hard part - I promise". Declan very gently pated him on the shoulder. "At least you didn't puke on me, that would have been three for three today" he chuckled lightly to himself.
Jess unclipped something else from the bed that had a long tube attached to Steve, Danny looked away as she clipped it to the back of the chair. She looked up at Danny who appeared fascinated by something that was on the floor infront of him, "we are going to be about 30mins with Steve, however there is a barber just off to the left of the main entrance. If he is not busy we might get lucky and he will do a ward visit. Steve is certainly out of regs and could do with a shave and trim. Can you go ask him?". Danny was pleased to have something to do and headed off down the hall.
Either the pain was starting to subside or Steve was just becoming use to it as his breathing started to regulate and he relaxed his jaw while being wheeled into the bathroom. "Okay Steve, we are going to get everything off. Including the brace but Declan and I will be supporting you the whole time so you will be safe" Jess tried to assure Steve as they brough him into the large shower area. They removed his high collar brace that had been around his neck. Straight away he felt a lightness around his neck, it felt like a thin fragile pole, almost unable to support the weight of this head. After a minute or so the sensation dissipated slightly. They removed his gown and then the tight white TEDS stockings and the diper to where Steve was just sitting there naked except for the large plastic brace around his midsection and lower back. Slowly they removed the brace with Declan supporting Steve. He felt like he was made of glass. Everything felt weak and fragile. He was scared to even move his head or his arms an inch incase he fell out of the chair. He was normally so physically confident, the first one to try anything difficult, but now he felt like if he moved he would shatter.
They nurses had done this 100s of times before, but they understood how frightening it would be for a newly injured patient so they where quick and gentle with their movements.
Jess was right, the shower did feel good. She even shampooed his hair. He had to fight the urge not to moan slightly as the nurse massaged the shampoo into his scalp. Steve was use to not showering for weeks when out field, but he still loved the long shower post mission to wash off all the mud and sweat and this felt similar.
After the nurses helped dry him off and replaced his shell like body brace he finally got to wear his own clothes. He was starting to feel human again out of the hospital gown, TEDs and high neck collar. They lowered him into the large, soft transport chair which they wheeled over to the dresser. There was a large mirror above it and Steve finally saw his reflection for the first time since the accident. He winced just at the sight of it. He had looked pretty rough before, but not like this. There were dark blue-purple bags under his eyes that trailed practically down to his nose. He looked pale, sickly and hollow. His thee weeks worth of beard was straggly and patchy. He looked straight at his reflection, even his eye's looked sad - giving away his internal moments of defeat and desperation. He has seen the same look on captured personnel that his team were handling. They were the ones who where about to break and give in. That was not going to be him. He had previously been so tempted to thrown in the towel but he wan't going to, not today not any more, he was he was going home.
###